The Art Nouveau and Art Deco Periods in France:
The Movement from Complexity to Simplicity
by
John Daab Ph.D., for Fine Art Registry®
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau (New Art) was, "A reaction to academic art of the 19th century, it is characterized by organic, especially floral and other plant-inspired motifs, as well as highly stylized, flowing curvilinear and asymmetric forms. The lines were sinuous, undulating, and the colors were temperate and dark-mustard yellow, blue, dark red, and purple. Art Nouveau is an approach to design according to which artists should work on everything from architecture to furniture, making art part of everyday life." 1 The theme of Art Nouveau was totality in expression with a breakdown of the distinction between fine and decorative arts. Architects such as Emile Andre, Eugene Gaillard, and Jules Lavirotte created the houses and buildings expressing the Nouveau style noted for ornamentation and complexity. Artists such as George De Fuerre created posters and theatrical designs, Edmond Lachenal ceramics, and Rene Lalique developed glassware to name a few. The Art Nouveau period began approximately in the 1880s and lasted into the early 20th century. Note that the dates are not concise since the boundaries of any historical period are blurred by later developments and information. 2 Note below the curvilinear, complexity, ornateness, floral, and asymmetrical character of the ceramics, posters, bridges, glassware, facades, buildings, and their interiors. 3
Art Deco
World War I decimated the population, its products, its arts, and challenged the ongoing traditions of Art Nouveau. As a result, a new era began to shape the cultures of those deprived and alienated by battle. Following the deprivation and hellish living conditions of World War I, modernity was ushered in with opulence and extravagance. The Art Deco movement in France was given life in 1925 through The Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, where the world's most renowned, influential artists and designers converged together in Paris to share a vision of the future." 4 It was hailed as a "celebration of living in the modern world." The exhibition showcased the contributions of artists' modern interpretations of established designs. Art Deco began as a simplified development following Art Nouveau's complex, asymmetric and curvilinear styles. The main elements of Art Deco architecture were its linearity, geometrical, vertical, hard edged, simple, open and industrial forms paralleling American Precisionist concepts. 5 Industrial materials of chrome, stainless steel and inlaid wood were the materials cast in fine and decorative arts.
Reinforced Concrete Houses
During the Art Nouveau period reinforced concrete began to be used as a building material but during Art Deco it took off as an extension of the mass production concept. Robert Mallet-Stevens along with Le Corbusier (see below), Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Francois Hennebique incorporated the reinforced concrete concept extensively into the design of bridges, high rise buildings, churches and private houses. The greatest advocate of Art Deco's principles was Le Corbusier. Corbusier built his reinforced concrete structures based on his 1926 principles:
- Pilotis - elevate the building mass off the ground.
- Separate the load bearing columns from the walls.
- The free facade or an absence of vertical interruption, and ornaments.
- Long sliding windows.
- The roof garden equal to the area covered by the structure.
Figure of Le Corbusier's 5 principles encompassing the reinforced concrete frame
Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier
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Robert Mallet Steven and his structures:
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Concluding Comments
Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods in France represent a movement from the complex, ornamentation, asymmetrical style towards a more geometric, simple minimalistic format. Art Deco reinforced concrete houses not only respected this simplicity, openness, and a desire to supplant land stolen by the footprint of the house with the creation of a rooftop garden but provide a noteworthy visual thesis of the period differences. These thesis concepts are as vibrant and significant now as they were in the early part of the 20th century. They required no trees to be cut down to frame the house in wood, no wood roof shingles, or wood siding, no wood windows, few pieces of furniture, and a roof garden equal to the land upon which the house covers. The garden could be used for raising flowers or vegetables. Typical wood joist framing could not support the load of the garden with soil and water weight. The early 20th century reinforced concrete house with its use of a small quantity of materials to construct, a garden to provide food and beautiful flowers, and almost no maintenance since concrete rarely decomposes, is a welcome image to today's call for going green.
- http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/c19th/artnouveau.htm
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau
- Please note that any and all images are free from Wiki, Or Bing
- http://www.invitinghome.com/art-deco/art-deco-style.htm
- http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/precisionism/
— by John Daab Ph.D.
| April 30, 2011
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